REDMOND, Wash, Oct. 7, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today launched MSN
™Web Events, an updated streaming media aggregation Web site that provides easy access to compelling audio and video news, entertainment and information links. Leading Internet content providers (ICPs), including Warner Bros. Online, Universal Studios Online, TV Guide Entertainment Network, MSNBC on the Internet, Fox Sports Online, Fox News Online, CNN Interactive, CNBC/Dow Jones Business Video, cbs.com, Capitol Records, broadcast.com and Bloomberg LP, will provide timely news, videos and audio programming that can be viewed with the Microsoft® Windows® Media Player. The MSN Web Events site is located at http://webevents.MSN.com/ .
Internet communications is evolving from the traditional, static text and graphics-based Web site to encompass a broader set of multimedia elements that include streaming audio and video, animation, and interactive chats. MSN Web Events enables customers with the Windows Media Player to easily find and access timely and relevant content in a rich and innovative format.
“With the wealth of information available through streaming media, customers have asked Microsoft for an easy way to locate the most innovative multimedia content on the Internet,”
said Will Poole, senior director, business development and strategy at Microsoft.
“MSN Web Events allows visitors to quickly find audio and video clips of breaking news, webcasts of concerts, live programming from the top radio stations and related streaming media content.”
The update of MSN Web Events corresponds with the new release of the latest enhancement of the Microsoft MSN network of Internet products and services. The MSN Web Events site will offer several enhancements over previous content aggregation sites, including an hourly update to the headlines of the latest live and on-demand audio and video content, a Radio Page listing more than 100 radio stations, interactive chat sessions, and other related event content and information.
“Broadcast.com is pleased to make a wide variety of our audio and video programming available in Windows Media Technologies,”
said Todd Wagner, CEO of broadcast.com.
“We invite users of MSN Web Events to enjoy more than 75 live radio stations and college sports games, as well as on-demand video programming on our new video channel.”
MSN Web Events Site Drives Adoption of Windows Media Technologies
Since its launch in July 1998, the Web Events site has helped promote the adoption of Windows Media Technologies, including the Windows Media Player. Over the past three months, customers have downloaded more than 5 million copies of the Windows Media Player, an average of approximately 70,000 players each day. According to Jupiter Communications, adoption of Windows Media Technologies at top Internet sites has increased to 25 percent in the three months since the release of the latest version of Windows Media Technologies.
“We are pleased with the growing number of users viewing CNN VideoSelect’s Headline News on MSN Web Events and MSN.com sites,”
said Mark Bernstein, vice president and general manager, CNN Interactive.
“We are excited about the quality of the Windows Media Player in bringing CNN’s ever-increasing streaming media to our users.”
The ICPs providing content to MSN Web Events include AccountingNet; Aerosmith/Live On Line; AfricMusic; ArtSource Contemporary Fine Art Ltd.; the Auto Channel; Bagheera Endangered Species Web Site; Bloomberg LP; Bob Rivers Twisted Tunes; broadcast.com; Capitol Records; CBS SportsLine; cbs.com; CNBC/Dow Jones Business Video; CNN; CNN Interactive; ConnectOS Corp.; CyberTV Toronto; Direct Stock Market; Forbes Digital Media, a division of Forbes Inc.; Fox News Online; Fox Sports Online; Global Golf Guide; Hollywood Online; Honkworm International; InterVU Inc.; ITV.Net; iXL; the Janice Malone Show; L.A. Live; Media Dev; MountainZone.com; MSNBC on the Internet; MUSICVIDEOS.COM; Net Access Corp.; New Media Broadcasting Inc.; Raveworld.Net; the Rock and the Environment Music Store; the Rock and the Environment Radio Show; TV Guide Entertainment Network; Universal Studios Online; Video2Net; Virtual Netcasting Corp.; Virtual Visits Inc.; Warner Bros. Online; Westerns.com; Worldcasts.com; WorldLink Corp.; and WWF (World Wrestling Federation).
Microsoft Windows Media Technologies – including the Windows Media Player, Windows NT® Server’s NetShow
™
Services and NetShow Theater Server – provide corporate, education and Internet customers with a platform for developing richer business and entertainment solutions using streaming media. More information on Windows Media Technologies can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ . The Windows Media Player is available for free download (connect-time charges may apply) at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer/download/default.asp.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, MSN, Windows, Windows NT and NetShow are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.
